HUGE TASK AHEAD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1944, Page 5

HUGE TASK AHEAD

FRENCH RECONSTRUCTION

LONDON, December 4. The enormous task of reconstruction facing France was outlined at Lille by the French Minister of Information, M. Tietgen, who said it would take at last five years to restore the basis of the nation's production and industry. M. Tietgen said that before the Allied landings 337,000 houses were damaged and 100,000 destroyed throughout France. Now, as the inevitable outcome of military operations, 600,000 houses would have to be entirely rebuilt.

The railway system had also suffered colossal destruction. About 2000 railway installations and nearly 1900 miles of permanent way were destroyed. France had also lost twothirds of her railway material. No fewer than 4500 road and railway bridges must be reconstructed. Only 150,000 motor vehicles remained on the roads, as compared with 480,000 before the war. The majority of the ports were in a disastrous condition. About 750 miles of railway track had been repaired since the liberation. M. Tietgen announced v programme of imports covering the first eight months of 1945. which would cost France one-lhirft.of her gold reserve. It was necessary to help revive her national economy. Possibly ten years would be required to re-equip " and re-establish port and railway facilities The public debt had risen nearly fourfold to £8,250,000,000 by August 31 last. A new loan had so far raised £500,000;000. Once the economic machine had restarted France would employ her own resources.

PURCHASE FROM U.S.A.

NEW YORK, December 5. France has obtained United States approval for the immediate purchase of 700 locomotives, costing 800,000 000 dollars, as part of her rehabilitation programme, reports the Washington correspondent of the "New York Herald-Tribune." This is the first large-scale purchase by a European nation of Americaji non-war goods of which Britain, Russia, and the other Allies plan to buy at least 5000 million dollars' worth.